FAQhttp://safe4athletes.org
Fri, 09 Dec 2016 09:18:49 -0800en-gbAre Safe4Athletes Model Policy program right for School and Colleges? I see this as a real solution for troubled schools and teams.http://safe4athletes.org/blog/item/32-are-safe4athletes-model-policy-program-right-for-school-and-colleges?-i-see-this-as-a-real-solution-for-troubled-schools-and-teams
http://safe4athletes.org/blog/item/32-are-safe4athletes-model-policy-program-right-for-school-and-colleges?-i-see-this-as-a-real-solution-for-troubled-schools-and-teams

Coach/Employee Conduct Policies for School and College Athletics Departments

Every educational institution that is a recipient of federal funds must comply with a federal law, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which includes a prohibition against sexual harassment and include the obligation to have a Title IX Coordinator and widely distributed sexual harassment policies and procedures. This is an area in which the athletics department cannot see itself as operating in isolation. If anyone in the athletics department becomes aware of sexual harassment, sexual abuse or sexual violence of any kind, the case should be reported to the institution and handled according to established Title IX policy and procedures.

This being said, school and college athletics departments should have policies, procedures and educational programs in place that address sexual harassment, sexual abuse, bullying and other forms of misconduct. As national media attention is focused on this issue, the time is ripe for athletic department leaders to devote staff meeting time and student-athlete meetings to reviewing sexual harassment policies and procedures and the definitions of prohibited activities. Athletics directors should pay careful attention to (1) the requirement that every staff member understand his or her immediate obligation to report any instance of sexual harassment or abuse whether or not the victim wishes to file a formal complaint and (2) the inclusion in coaches' employment agreements and athletics department policies of clear statements prohibiting intimate relationships with students, even if they have reached the age of consent.

SportsManagementResources.com has numerous model policy examples that school administrators can use (free):

SAMPLE POLICY: Ethical and Professional Conduct of Athletic Department Employees

]]>FAQWed, 11 Jan 2012 07:41:34 -0800Why, from a “protection from harm” perspective, is it important for a local club to have policies defining prohibited behaviors, misconduct, etc.?http://safe4athletes.org/blog/item/27-why-from-a-“protection-from-harm”-perspective-is-it-important-for-a-local-club-to-have-policies-defining-prohibited-behaviors-misconduct-etc?
http://safe4athletes.org/blog/item/27-why-from-a-“protection-from-harm”-perspective-is-it-important-for-a-local-club-to-have-policies-defining-prohibited-behaviors-misconduct-etc?A:· Coach/athlete abuse is a foreseeable risk of harm to participants, and as such, the Club has the responsibility to protect athletes against the occurrence of such harm.

· The failure to have policies or prevention systems is, in itself, an action by the Club to take no action. In other words and for example, if sued by the victim or her/his family, a court would most likely say “The athlete was harmed by the Club’s failure to exercise reasonable care on behalf of the athlete by failing to adopt and administer policies that would have prevented the abuse suffered.”

Parents want to know that a sports program is safe for their children. Having specific policies that address these issues will increase parent trust and confidence in club leadership, coaches, or ownership.

Athletes can concentrate on their sports, without second-guessing their “gut feeling” that someone’s behavior isn’t right.

Clear rules and a fair process reduce the Club’s risk from lawsuits that may be filed by dismissed coaches or the abused victim or her/his family.

Many national sport governing bodies (NGB) do not yet require their Club members to have comprehensive athlete protection policies, and if they do, these policies may not address bullying or coach/peer athlete conduct that falls short of criminal behavior.

Even when NGBs have processes that are applicable in cases of athlete sexual abuse, reporting and investigation procedures take a considerable amount of time and because the NGB is not the employer, the NGB in not in a position to address immediate suspension of an employee in the case of serious misconduct.

The local Club is responsible for the safety of its program participants and is obligated to take immediate action to remedy a hostile environment.

Why should your club adopt Safe4Athletes or similar child safety and welfare policies and procedures?

Parents want to know that a sports program is safe for their children. Having specific policies that address these issues will increase parent trust and confidence in club leadership, coaches, or ownership.

Athletes can concentrate on their sports, without second-guessing their “gut feeling” that someone’s behavior isn’t right.

Clear rules and a fair process reduce the Club’s risk from lawsuits that may be filed by dismissed coaches or the abused victim or her/his family.

Many national sport governing bodies (NGB) do not yet require their Club members to have comprehensive athlete protection policies, and if they do, these policies may not address bullying or coach/peer athlete conduct that falls short of criminal behavior.

Even when NGBs have processes that are applicable in cases of athlete sexual abuse, reporting and investigation procedures take a considerable amount of time and because the NGB is not the employer, the NGB in not in a position to address immediate suspension of an employee in the case of serious misconduct.

The local Club is responsible for the safety of its program participants and is obligated to take immediate action to remedy a hostile environment.

A: Coaches and athletes constantly engage in verbal interactions. It is the coach’s responsibility to use such interactions for instructional and motivational purposes. Emotional or verbal abuse of athletes should be expressly prohibited.

Emotional or verbal abuse of athletes can take many forms such as: (1) when a coach excessively, in comparison to treatment of other athletes, singles out an athlete through negative interactions; (2) when a coach routinely uses profanity or degrading language; (3) when a coach personalizes error correction; (4) when a coach devalues a player’s role on the team, potential for success, or value as a person; (5) when a coach constantly blames the team or groups of players for failures; and (6) when a coach isolates a player by ignoring him or her. Coaches must make every effort to avoid such conduct. Coaches should immediately call a halt to any bullying or emotional verbal abuse undertaken by any athlete toward another while in the coach’s presence. Coaches should refrain from and disallow their athletes from engaging in verbal discourse that denigrates others.

]]>FAQSun, 06 Nov 2011 16:30:00 -0800Should coaches be permitted to have personal relationships with athletes they are coaching?http://safe4athletes.org/blog/item/13-should-coaches-be-permitted-to-have-personal-relationships-with-athletes-they-are-coaching?
http://safe4athletes.org/blog/item/13-should-coaches-be-permitted-to-have-personal-relationships-with-athletes-they-are-coaching?

A: Sexual, intimate, romantic, or similar close personal relationships between a coach and an athlete should be strictly prohibited, even if that athlete is an adult, because creates the appearance or actuality of favoritism and special treatment. Examples of other inappropriate behaviors that should be expressly prohibited include:

A: Sexual, intimate, romantic, or similar close personal relationships between a coach and an athlete should be strictly prohibited, even if that athlete is an adult, because creates the appearance or actuality of favoritism and special treatment. Coaches are in a position of authority and should not cross the line into an intimate relationships. The following are examples of situations should not transpire between a coach - athlete relationship.

➢ Performing back rubs or massage on an athlete even if the coach is a licensed allied health professional (must be performed by a licensed allied health professional approved by the club) ➢ Kissing ➢ Touching➢ Commenting on an athlete’s body or appearance in a sexual manner➢ Exchanging romantic gifts or communications ➢ Showing obscene or suggestive photos ➢ Videotaping or photographing student-athletes or employees in revealing or suggestive poses➢ Discussing/writing about sexual topics ➢ Making sexual jokes, sexual gestures, and innuendos or engaging in inappropriate sexually oriented banter (e.g. discussion of dating behavior).➢ Sharing sexual exploits or marital difficulties➢ Intentionally invading the athlete's privacy during non-working hours or outside of regularly schedules practice and competition➢ Using e-mail, text-messaging, or instant messaging to discuss sexual topics

A: Some of the more common forms of physical abuse include when a coach:

(1) requires or suggests that an athlete perform a physical act that has no relevance to the sport and which is intended to cause embarrassment, be degrading or punish; (2) requires or suggests that an athlete continue to perform a physical act, whether it is relevant to the sport or not, that compromises established conditioning and safety guidelines; (3) places an athlete in a situation where he/she is mismatched physically with an opposing athlete causing the possibility of physical harm or the athlete is clearly unable to perform a physical activity safely or effectively without harm, or (5) fails to stop an activity where an athlete is clearly being subjected to physical harm.

A: Not unless the Athletes says Ok– only in these generally accepted ways - when correcting physical form for skill or strategy execution, injured or congratulating an athlete for a good performance. Always ask the athlete first. If it does feel ok, it isn't ok.

A: Athletic teams commonly justify rituals or behaviors as rites of passage for team or group acceptance. These activities commonly make the athlete feel humiliated, embarrassed, or devalued or may even threaten the athlete’s safety or dignity. Following are examples of activities that should be classified as hazing, initiation rituals, and physical punishment and be prohibited:

• Forcing, requiring or pressuring the consumption of alcohol or other drugs• Forcing, requiring or pressuring the ingestion of any substance• Forcing, requiring or pressuring the shaving of any part of the body• Forcing, requiring or pressuring the participation in any activity which is illegal, perverse, publicly indecent, or contrary to the individual’s genuine moral beliefs• Forcing, requiring or pressuring an individual to tamper with or damage property• Dietary restrictions of any kind unrelated to healthy nutrition• Deprivation of sleep and waking up/disturbing individuals during normal sleep hours• Creation of excessive fatigue unrelated to normal training expectations and activities• Calisthenics or any type of physically abusive exercise unrelated to normal training• Paddling, whipping, beating or physical abuse of any kind• Engaging in public stunts and buffoonery • Forced tattooing or branding• Road trips, kidnapping, drop-offs, or any other such activities• Work projects without the participation of the full membership• Assigned or endorsed pranks, such as borrowing or stealing items, painting property or objects, or harassing other individuals or groups• Subjecting a member to cruel and unusual psychological conditions• Forcing, encouraging, or pressuring the wearing of apparel in public which is conspicuous, not normally in good taste, or designed to humiliate the individual(s) wearing it• Morally degrading or humiliating games or activities• Verbal or cruel harassment, including yelling and screaming• Line-ups, kangaroo courts, or any interrogation not consistent with the legitimate testing for information about the purposes and history of the team • Participation in sexual rituals, assaults and/or required nudity • Collective behavior such as marching• Activities that promote or encourage the violation of state laws or club policies• Requiring new members to “greet” initiated members• Requiring the answering of phones or doors with songs, chants, or riddles• Requiring yelling or screaming upon entering or leaving a facility• Deception or threat contrived to convince the new member that he/she will not be permitted to join• Mentally abusive or demeaning behavior